“We found that people are confused about what types of items are accepted for recycling in the greater Portland area," said Pam Peck, Metro resource conservation and recycling planning manager. "This is particularly true of plastic packaging, such as to-go containers, as well as items like disposable coffee cups that include a mix of paper and plastic.”

Developed using feedback from everyday recyclers, Recycle or Not focuses on some of the most common items that end up in recycling bins when they shouldn’t. It also provides a list of the most common household items that are recyclable at home – things like yogurt containers and plastic detergent bottles.

“We asked community members to look at our recycling information. They suggested a number of changes to help them recycle right, including keeping it simple and using color to provide key information at a glance,” said Peck. “You can see the community’s suggestions reflected on the Recycle or Not website and materials.”

Whether your roots in the region run generations deep or you moved to Oregon last week, you have your own reasons for loving this place – and Metro wants to keep it that way. Help shape the future of the greater Portland region and discover tools, services and places that make life better today.